I6

Syllabus, Spring 2015

CEP

Community English Program Spring, 2015

Teachers College, Columbia University
Instructor: Xinzhou (Joanna) Hu, Yun (Kerry) Pan, Yan (Maggie) Luo
E-mail: xh2225@tc.columbia.edu; yp2367@tc.columbia.edu; yl3162@tc.columbia.edu
Level: Intermediate 6
Classes: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday
Class time: 10:00am 12:00pm
Classroom: Thompson 422
Course Description:
The course is designed to help Intermediate English language learners develop English
listening, speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension skills that is required for everyday
life. Using a theme-based teaching approach, students will learn grammar, pronunciation as
well as relevant vocabulary to meet daily needs. Each class will be centered on a theme in
order to centralize learning and functions associated with each particular topic.
About the CEP
The Community Language Program (CLP) is a unique and integral part of the TESOL and
Applied Linguistics Programs at Teachers College, Columbia University. It provides English as a
second language and foreign language instruction to adult learners of diverse nationalities and
backgrounds. In addition, the CLP serves as an on- site language education lab in which TESOL
and Applied Linguistics faculty and students enrolled in the programs teach the courses and use
the CLP as a setting for empirical inquiry. Here at Teachers College we believe that observation
and classroom research are the best way to learn about how we teach and gain insights into how
teaching might take place. Thus, we encourage observation and classroom research and want
people to use it as a tool for learning. Ongoing assessment and program evaluation allow us to
make the CLP a better program.
Important dates:
Week 1
Monday, Feb 9

First day of class

Week 2

Monday, Feb 16

Last day for transfers

Friday, Feb 20

Last day for refunds

Week 3

Mon Feb, 23

Unit test

Week 5

Wed Mar 11

Unit test

Week 6

Mar 16 to Mar 22

Spring break: No classes

Week 7

Thurs April 2

Unit test

Week 10

Monday or Wednesday, Apr 20 or 22 Final exam

Thursday, Apr 23

Last day of class

1

I6 Syllabus, Spring 2015

CEP

Course Textbook and Workbook: (available at the Columbia University Bookstore at 115th
and Broadway)
1. On Target 2 Intermediate (2nd edition). (2000). Longman.
2. On Target Workbook 2 (2nd edition). (2000). Longman.
We will cover units 9 12.
Course Objectives:
At the end of the course students will be able to develop:

Listening and speaking skills through classroom participation, discussions, and oral
presentations
Reading comprehension skills through reading and interpreting texts on and from
everyday life sources
Writing skills
Grammar by focusing and practicing form, meaning, and use.

Course Requirements:
Unit tests 1, 2, 3: 15% each (45% total)
Final test: 30%
Attendance and Participation: 10%
Homework: 15%
Attendance Policy:
If a student misses 5 or more classes, s/he cannot pass the course.
If the student is late for 10 classes, s/he cannot pass the course.
Tests:
There will be three unit tests. Each test will be around 40 minutes long and will cover 1
unit. Please see the Approximate Schedule for dates.
There will be a final test in Week 10.
Grading:
A+/B+/C+/Fail/Repeat
W

Excellent
A+ 97 100%
A 94 96%
A- 90 93%
Good
B+ 87 89%
B 84 86%
B- 80 83%
Satisfactory
C+ 77 79%
C 73 76%
C- 70 72%
(pass)
Poor (no pass)
69% or Below
D 63 66%
D- 60 62%
Withdrawal (With permission from the teacher and the Director,
the student withdrew from the course due to extenuating
circumstances)

I6 Syllabus, Spring 2015

CEP

APPROXIMATE
SCHEDULE

Week

Theme

Grammar

Listening and
Speaking

Reading and
Writing

Test Dates

1&2

Unit
9:
Home
Sweet
Home

Getting things
done;
Expressing
purpose

Listening to
confirm
predictions;

Reading: Play Palace Test 1: Feb

23

Writing: A
Descriptive
Pronunciation: /i/ Paragraph
versus /I/
Speaking: How
to
Asking for
clarification
and
clarifying

3&4

Unit 10:
Mysteries
of
Science

Speculating
About the
Past;
Expressing
Past Ability or
Missed
Opportunity;
Drawing
Logical
Conclusions
About the Past

Listening:
Tropical
Rain Forests
Recognizing
facts and
opinions;
Pronunciation:
Reducing Have
with Past Modals

Reading: Tricks of
Nature
Distinguishing
Between Facts and
Opinion

Test 2: Oct
Mar 11

Writing: Using
Formal Language

Speaking:
Influential People
Describing the
Opposite of Past
Reality

I6 Syllabus, Spring 2015

5&7

Unit 11:
Sadder but
Wiser

Using Past
Modals:
Advice,
Criticism, and
Regret;
Speculating
About the
Past: The
Third
Conditional

Listening: Job
Reading: See Ya!
Performance
Personalizing
Making inferences
Pronunciation:
Reducing Have
with Negative
Past
Modals

CEP
Test 3: Apr 2

Writing: a Persuasive
Paragraph

Speaking:
Influential
People
Describing the
Opposite of Past
Reality
Speaking:
Influential
People
Describing the
Opposite of Past
Reality

8&9

Unit 12:
Wishful
Thinking

Wishing for
Changes to the
Present;
Wishing for
Changes to the
Past;
Wishing for
Changes to the
Future

Listening: Share a
Wish
Recognizing
Speakers Roles

Reading: UNICEF
Working for a Better
World Outlining a
Text

Pronunciation:
Saying Content
Words Together

Writing: A Persuasive
Letter

Speaking: A Wish
Evaluating and
Justifying

10
Revision and Final Exam

Final Exam:
Apr 20 or 22

I6 Syllabus, Spring 2015

CEP

Program Policies:
The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities.
Students are encouraged to contact the Office of Access and Services for Individuals with
Disabilities (OASID) for information about registering with the office. You can reach OASID by
email at oasid@tc.columbia.edu, stop by 163 Thorndike Hall or call 212-678-3689. Services are
available only to students who are registered and submit appropriate documentation. As your
instructor, I am happy to discuss specific needs with you as well.
It is the policy of Teachers College to respect its members observance of their major religious
holidays. Students should notify instructors at the beginning of the semester about their wishes to
observe holidays on days when class sessions are scheduled. Where academic scheduling conflicts
prove unavoidable, no student will be penalized for absence due to religious reasons, and
alternative means will be sought for satisfying the academic requirements involved. If a suitable
arrangement cannot be worked out between the student and the instructor, students and instructors
should consult the Program Director. If an additional appeal is needed, it may be taken to the
Provost.

Have a great semester! J